William Wallace has always been one of the great heroes of Scottish history. By no means prepared by birth, education or training for leadership, Wallace nevertheless rose to prominence during the Wars of Independence, leading forces which broke the sequence of English victories and inspiring his countrymen in the process. While others yielded and collaborated, Wallace set an example of constancy and perseverance and became the Guardian of Scotland. Even his terrible death in London in 1305 can be seen as a victory as it provided inspiration for the continuance of the struggle against the English domination.

Despite Wallace's almost mythical status, modern-day perceptions of him are not always based on an objective analysis of the historical facts. Unlike previous biographies, which have tended to present Wallace as a one-dimensional figure, this new and substantially expanded edition of Andrew Fisher's classic book investigates all aspects of Wallace's life and character, treating him as a man of his time. In an age of brutality, Wallace too was brutal: he repaid the sack of Berwick with the harrying of Northumberland, and the crimes with which he was charged in 1305 were by no means wholly fabricated.

Featuring new sections on the Wallace of literature and present-day perceptions, this book provides a more authentic picture of the greatest of Scotland's heroes than has been previously available, placing the crude distortions and inaccuracies such as Braveheart in their proper context.

‘a tremendously popular account of one of Scotland's genuine heroes' – Scottish Life

‘the first well researched and reliable biography of Wallace... Andrew Fisher has looked at the sources with a fresh eye and the result is a lively and interesting study’ – History Teaching Review